Hack It Ball Game

ABSTRACT

A hack it ball game including rules and regulations for scoring points to win the hack it ball game, a ball, and a dividing apparatus. The hack it ball game is played by opposing players return the ball over the net within a court, the dividing apparatus is assembled and divides the court evenly in half to a first-section and a second-section. The hack it ball game is a competitive recreational game using a nylon sand or bead bag ball.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/479,221 filed Mar. 30, 2017, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of games and morespecifically relates to games using a tangible projectile.

2. Description of Related Art

Outdoor games are games that are played as a part of a party, tofacilitate interaction and provide entertainment and recreation atsocial gatherings. Different games will generate different atmospheres,so the party game may merely be intended as an icebreaker, or the solepurpose for or structure of the party. Some people may lack themotivation to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. People may playsports to get exercise and alleviate boredom; however, playing the samesport every day can become boring. People may abandon exercise routinesand just stay indoors eating unhealthy food and playing video games. Aneffective alternative is needed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,053 to Donald B. Barnes, Jr. relates to a portablefree-standing apparatus for multiple athletic ball games. The describedportable free-standing apparatus for multiple athletic ball gamesincludes an apparatus readily useful for setting up to play a pluralityof water and yard or court games. The construction comprises a pluralityof tubing sections, preferably made of polyvinylchloride. The parts canbe glued together in large part so that only one or two pieces need tobe changed out to set up for different games or sports. The tubingpermits the use of water as the ballasting medium, which is readilyavailable and disposable in most situations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known games art,the present disclosure provides a novel hack it ball game. The generalpurpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequentlyin greater detail, is to provide an entertaining game using a nylon sandor bead bag ball.

A hack it ball game is disclosed herein. The hack it ball game includesrules and regulations for scoring points to win the hack it ball game, aball, a dividing apparatus including a plurality of legs, a pair ofcoupling members, a first-pipe, a second-pipe, and a net. The pluralityof legs extend from the pair of coupling members and provide a basesupporting the net in an elevated position. The pair of coupling membersare further connected to the first-pipe and the second-pipe, thefirst-pipe and the second-pipe extending vertically from the base. Thenet is configured at an end of the first-pipe and the second-pipe. Thehack it ball game is played by which opposing players return the ballover the net within a court, the dividing apparatus is assembled anddivides the court evenly in half to a first-section and asecond-section. The hack it ball game is a competitive recreationalgame.

When the ball touches a ground surface of the court, an opposing team tothe ground surface gets a point. The ball is out of play when the ballgoes beyond a perimeter of the court. The opposing team serves the ballafter receiving the point. Each team's points are aggregated over acourse of a game and a winner is designated when one of each the teamsreaches fifteen points. The hack it ball game may be played in singlesor doubles.

The hack it ball game may be set up almost anywhere including abackyard, park, beach, or tailgate party. The game may be played bysingles or doubles and may be set up in just minutes. A bag is includedfor easy transporting. The hack it ball game builds hand eyecoordination, provides foot work and a fun and entertaining way toexercise. The hack it ball game is build using durable materials forlong lasting use.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, ahack it ball game, constructed and operative according to the teachingsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hack it ball game during an ‘in-use’condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hack it ball game of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hack it ball game of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hack it ball game of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hack it ball game of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate togames and more particularly to a hack it ball game as used to improvegames played using tangible projectile(s).

Generally, the present invention provides users with an outdoor gamecapable of offering fun and entertainment in a backyard, at the park, atthe beach, during a tailgate party, and more. It requires physicalactivity for players of all ages, promoting a healthy lifestyle andexercise. It includes a net and net stand in order to play the game. Itutilizes a ball which must be kept in the air and hit back-and-forthover the net, allowing players to use any part of their body except thehands to hit the ball (beginners may be allowed to use hands). Forbeginners, all parts of the body can be used to hit the ball over thenet, including the hands, but the hands must be palms up, not at anangle, or in a spiking angle. For intermediate/advanced players allparts of the body are in play, kicking, chest, head, and shoulders andall parts of the legs are allowed, arms and hands are not allowed in thegame.

The present invention offers a fun and unique game with aneasy-to-follow set of rules. Hack It Ball is an outdoor game that usesall parts of the body except the hands to hit a ball back-and-forth overa net. The game includes a 30′×10′ play area and an 18-25″ high net. Theball is hit over the net between two players/teams and points areawarded to a team when the ball hits the ground. A single player on eachside of the net can play, and once the ball hits the ground, the ball isruled dead. Whichever side the ball is on determines who gets the pointor wins the serve. In singles play, the person serving the ball is theonly one who can score points. The defender must win the ball back. Ifthe defender loses three points in a row, the server gives the ball tothe opposite player. Games can be played to 15 points. Doubles games canbe played with two players on each side of the net. The ball can becomprised of a hacky-sack ball and the net can be assembled usingfurniture grade PVC (or other suitable material). The game is intendedto fit in a backpack for storage and transportation.

In singles the player serving the ball is the only one who can scorepoints, the server has to palm/kick the ball over the net without goingout of bounds which is outside of the net stand, and also keep the ballinside of the 15 ft boundary, so they have 10 ft by 15 ft serving area,and during the serve the server can't hit the net, but during the rallythe ball can hit the net. If the server touches the ball with any partof their body and the ball doesn't go over the net he/she loses theirserve, but if the server doesn't touch the ball he/she gets anotherchance to serve, but only one more chance.

In regards to defending, the defender on the opposite side of the nethas too win the rally by hitting the ball back over the net without theball hitting the ground, and at no time can any part of the defendingplayer body part go over the net, all body parts must stay on their sideof the net, either side defending during the rally has three hits withthe ball to get it over the net, that keeps the game going and notallowing one side to delay the game by keeping the ball on one side fortoo long, so three hits to get it over the net.

Server distance is 6 ft away from the net for beginners, and 10 ft to 15ft for intermediate/advanced players. Beginners can use palm up serve tohit the ball over the net, intermediate/advanced players can only kickthe ball over the net, all serves have to remain inbounds which isinside of the net stands and 15 ft from the net, if the defender cannotreturn the ball over the net the server wins the point, and the servercan only score 3 pts in a row, then the server has to give the ball tothe opposite player, that keeps the game fair and allows the oppositeside a chance to serve.

For playing doubles most all rules are the same as the singles game, forbeginners the palm up serve and return applies, intermediate/advancedall body parts except the hands and arms can be used, the rally is thesame, kick the ball over the net to score or win the serve back, keepthe ball inbounds, the only difference is there are two players on eachside of the net. Only one team member can serve, when the opposite teamwins the rally the ball goes back to that team, each player gets toserve by letting the other team member serve, no player can serve twicein a row, so if team A player one serves, the next time team A servesplayer two serves, that keeps all players participating in the game.

Two games may be played to 15 points. A tie breaker is played to 11points if needed. switch sides after the first game, and winner with thehighest points gets to choose their side if a tie breaker has to beplayed, so each team member gets a chance to serve, but only one teammember gets to serve, when the opposite team wins the rally the ballgoes back to that team, and the 3 points rules still applies.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5, various views of a hack it ballgame 100. FIG. 1 shows a hack it ball game 100 during an ‘in-use’condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Asillustrated, the hack it ball game 100 may include rules and regulations110 for scoring points to win the hack it ball game 100, a ball 114, adividing apparatus 118 including a plurality of legs 122, a pair ofcoupling members 134, a first-pipe 126, a second-pipe 130, and a net158. The plurality of legs 122 extend from the pair of coupling members134 and provide a base supporting the net 158 in an elevated position.The pair of coupling members 134 are further connected to the first-pipe126 and the second-pipe 130, the first-pipe 126 and the second-pipe 130extending vertically from the base and opposing one another. The net 158is configured at an end of the first-pipe 126 and the second-pipe 130.The hack it ball game 100 is played by which opposing players return theball 114 over the net 158 within a court 166. The dividing apparatus 118is assembled and divides the court 166 evenly in half to a first-sectionand a second-section. The hack it ball game 100 is a competitiverecreational game.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the hack it ball game 100 of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the hackit ball game 100 may be played on a court 166. The court 166 has adimension of 30 feet long and 10 feet wide, the net 158 being positionedin a center of the court 166 and extending a width of the court 166. Thehack it ball game 100 is configured to be played as single opposingplayers or double opposing players. The net 158 has a nylon bodyextending 10 feet long and 8 inches wide. The ball 114 is out of playwhen the ball 114 goes beyond a perimeter of the court 166. When theball 114 touches a ground surface of the court 166, an opposing team tothe ground surface gets a point. The opposing team serves the ball 114after receiving the point. Each team's points are aggregated over acourse of the game and a winner is designated when one of the teamsreaches fifteen points. The hack it ball game 100 further includes acarrying bag for transporting the dividing apparatus 118 whendisassembled.

Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 showing perspective views of the hackit ball game 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As above, the hack it ball game 100 may include the rulesand regulations 110 for scoring points to win the hack it ball game 100,the ball 114, the dividing apparatus 118 including, the plurality oflegs 122, the pair of coupling members 134, the first-pipe 126, thesecond-pipe 130, and the net 158. The ball 114 preferably includes abead bag-ball. The pair of coupling members 134 each comprise a 5-wayfitting, wherein one of the plurality of legs 122 extends from eachside-aperture 136. The first-pipe 126 and second-pipe 130 each comprise1.25, 12-inch PVC pipes and extend from top-apertures 138 of thecoupling members 134. The hack it ball game 100 further includes 8, 1.25end-caps and 2, 1-inch dome-caps. The net 158 is configured on twoextension-pipes 140, configured to be coupled to the first-pipe 126 andthe second-pipe 130 and extend vertically. The dividing apparatus 118holds the net approximately 18 to 25 inches above ground.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the hack it ball game 100 of FIG. 1, according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment,the hack it ball game 100 may be arranged as a kit. The kit may includerules and regulations 110 for scoring points to win the hack it ballgame 100, a ball 114, a dividing apparatus 118, and a carrying bag 170.The rules and regulations may detail functional relationships inrelation to the structure of the hack it ball game 100 (such that thehack it ball game 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in apreferred manner).

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A hack it ball game comprising:rules and regulations for scoring points to win said hack it ball game;a ball; a dividing apparatus including; a plurality of legs; a pair ofcoupling members; a first-pipe; a second-pipe; and a net; wherein saidplurality of legs extend from said pair of coupling members and providea base supporting said net in an elevated position; wherein said pair ofcoupling members are further connected to said first-pipe and saidsecond-pipe, said first-pipe and said second-pipe extending verticallyfrom said base; wherein said net is configured at an end of saidfirst-pipe and said second-pipe; wherein said hack it ball game isplayed by which opposing players return said ball over said net within acourt, said dividing apparatus is assembled and divides said courtevenly in half to a first-section and a second-section; and wherein saidhack it ball game is a competitive recreational game.
 2. The hack itball game of claim 1, wherein said ball comprises a bead bag-ball. 3.The hack it ball game of claim 1, wherein said pair of coupling memberseach comprise a 5-way fitting, wherein one of said plurality of legsextends from each side-aperture.
 4. The hack it ball game of claim 1,wherein said first-pipe and second-pipe each comprise 1.25, 12-inch PVCpipes.
 5. The hack it ball game of claim 1, further includes 8, 1.25end-caps.
 6. The hack it ball game of claim 1, further includes 2,1-inch dome-caps.
 7. The hack it ball game of claim 1, wherein said netis configured on two extension-pipes, configured to be coupled to saidfirst-pipe and said second-pipe.
 8. The hack it ball game of claim 1,wherein said dividing apparatus holds said net approximately 18 to 25inches above ground.
 9. The hack it ball game of claim 1, wherein saidcourt has a dimension of 30 feet long and 10 feet wide, said net beingpositioned in a center of said court, extending a width of said court.10. The hack it ball game of claim 1, wherein said hack it ball game isconfigured to be played as single said opposing players or double saidopposing players.
 11. The hack it ball game of claim 1, wherein said nethas a nylon body extending 10 feet long and 8 inches wide.
 12. The hackit ball game of claim 1, wherein said ball is out of play when said ballgoes beyond a perimeter of said court.
 13. The hack it ball game ofclaim 1, wherein when said ball touches a ground surface of said court,an opposing team to said ground surface gets a point.
 14. The hack itball game of claim 13, wherein said opposing team serves said ball afterreceiving said point.
 15. The hack it ball game of claim 1, wherein eachteam's points are aggregated over a course of said game and a winner isdesignated when one of said teams reaches fifteen points.
 16. The hackit ball game of claim 1, further includes a carrying bag fortransporting said dividing apparatus when disassembled.
 17. A hack itball game, the hack it ball game comprising: rules and regulations forscoring points to win said hack it ball game; a ball; a dividingapparatus including; a plurality of legs; a pair of coupling members; afirst-pipe; a second-pipe; and a net; wherein said plurality of legsextend from said pair of coupling members and provide a base supportingsaid net in an elevated position; wherein said pair of coupling membersare further connected to said first-pipe and said second-pipe, saidfirst-pipe and said second-pipe extending vertically from said base;wherein said pair of coupling members each comprise a 5-way fitting,wherein one of said plurality of legs extends from each side-aperture;wherein said first-pipe and second-pipe each comprise 1.25, 12-inch PVCpipes; wherein said net is configured on two extension-pipes, configuredto be coupled to said first-pipe and said second-pipe; wherein said hackit ball game is played by which opposing players return said ball oversaid net within a court, said dividing apparatus is assembled anddivides said court evenly in half to a first-section and asecond-section; wherein said hack it ball game is a competitiverecreational game; wherein said ball comprises a bead bag-ball; whereinsaid hack it ball game further includes 8, 1.25 end-caps; wherein saidhack it ball game of further includes 2, 1-inch dome-caps; wherein saiddividing apparatus holds said net approximately 18 to 25 inches aboveground; wherein said court has a dimension of 30 feet long and 10 feetwide, said net being positioned in a center of said court, extending awidth of said court; wherein said hack it ball game is configured to beplayed as single said opposing players or double said opposing players;wherein said net has a nylon body extending 10 feet long and 8 incheswide; wherein said ball is out of play when said ball goes beyond aperimeter of said court; wherein when said ball touches a ground surfaceof said court, an opposing team to said ground surface gets a point;wherein said opposing team serves said ball after receiving said point;wherein each team's points are aggregated over a course of said game anda winner is designated when one of said teams reaches fifteen points;and wherein said hack it ball game further includes a carrying bag fortransporting said dividing apparatus when disassembled.
 18. The hack itball game of claim 17, further comprising: rules and regulations forscoring points to win said hack it ball game; said ball; said dividingapparatus including; said plurality of legs; said coupling member; saidfirst-pipe; said second-pipe; and said net; and said carrying bag; andwherein the hack it ball game is arranged as a kit.